Club 80-90 Forums

Now we have a van we were thinking of recouping some of the cost by using the van for October half term instead of highering a cottage like we usually do.

Is October too late to camp? What do I need to do to ensure a bit of comfort?

I don't have a thermal wrap for the pop top. Is it essential

Too late...never!
Camping is an all year round/ all weather experience for some of us. This club campers were away last New year in Wales. Depends on the level of comfort needed so that you don't feel the cold. I'm a big fan of layers, pyjamas and plenty of cups of tea. If you are going to be on hook-up, I can certainly recommend having a small oil filled radiator and an electric blanket!
Go for it!

As said above, for a lot of us going away in the van is an all year thing...

Thermal wraps for the pop top are a great investment for winter camping - they also keep out the heat and light in the summer months.

Choose your site carefully - specially with a pop top. If its a windy site then you may be inclined to drop the roof if you feel like it is going to blow away - so somewhere sheltered is good in winter.

Get a site with electric hookup and get a oil radiator or fan heater going and you wont be cold. Lots of us have eberspachers/propex/webastos fitted for warmth without 240V - i couldnt live without one now....

Just booked Christmas Day in mine - cant wait!

Ringo

As well as a heater, duvets (winter ones preferably) are essential plus an extra one for anybody sleeping upstairs, just in case. Waterproofs, thick woolly socks and body warmers, beer, wine, (water for the kids) spare toilet rolls, updated trivial pursuit cards and food. Of course the weather could be hot and dry in which case all this may not be needed. But take it just in case and have a fun trip.

Patrick

A decent set of thermals, a bobble hat and a duvet should be enough to keep you warm in October. The first time I camped in mine was on a Cornish cliff-top in a February gale. To say it was bracing would be an understatement.
There's bound to be a "cold" night between now and October, why not have a practice sleep out in the van on the drive to see how ruffty-tufty you are.

ringo wrote:. Lots of us have eberspachers/propex/webastos fitted for warmth without 240V - i couldnt live without one now....
Ringo

I have a Webasto, used to be a BBW but changed it to a Thermotop C....test it every week but EVERY time I need it on "in anger" damn thing lets me down, Whats going on!!. Brilliant when it works, just wish it would do it when I need it

We'll be out in October, wonderful time, fresh and clear with a nip in the air...perfect!...do it you'll be warm enough!

We tested the capability of ours out in March this year. With a small thermostat controlled fan heater we were absolutely fine.

It helped that there was a pub 5 min away with a roaring open fire and good beer.

I camped in March and it was quite cosy, snuggling down in the van with a book and a little lamp on a cold, dark night. I'm not entirely sure how it'd work with my kids though, I'm sure they'd end up throttling each other if confined inside a van for long evenings - I can't imagine being able to send the warring factions into the pup tent when it's so cold.

Silky

BOXY wrote:A decent set of thermals, a bobble hat and a duvet should be enough to keep you warm in October

Am I the only one who has these to hand in the Spring/Summer too? It can get cold sat out at night even when it's been a scorcher

Me too Cruz. After too many nights freezing in tents, wearing everything I'd brought to keep warm, I always have a thick sleeping bag, duvet, wool blanket and fur lined hat with me just in case....and a hot, fluffy Spaniel as an ever-ready bed warmer

Silky

Never without my hot water bottle either in winter lol.

This is the twenty first century... there's no reason to be cold, if you are, it's bad clothing and poor planning

I think winter camping is better than summer, especially if you haven't got round to fitting a fridge! If it snows, you don't get any muddy prints in the van.

I have an oil burning radiator, but I have recently started using a cheap £10 electric fan heater. I could not believe how much warmer it was.

bikermike87 wrote:
I have an oil burning radiator,

What the blithering heck is one of them?

kevtherev wrote:

bikermike87 wrote:
I have an oil burning radiator,

What the blithering heck is one of them?

Does it fit on the front of a diesel van??